Chinese Entertainment Intelligence King

Chapter 280 "The Sun Also Rises" and Firefighter Huo
As the closing credits of "The Sun Also Rises" slowly rolled across the screen, the quiet auditorium began to fill with the soft sounds of conversation.

Third Master Han glanced at the people around him: "What do you guys think of this movie?"

"..."

To be honest, Yan Li didn't understand the script very well when he first read it. Now that he has seen the finished film, he can understand it more intuitively than he did when he read the script. However, he is still uncertain and has given a conservative answer.

"The visuals are vibrant, the camera work is fluid, and the personal style is very prominent and strong."

Regardless of whether it's good or bad, or whether one understands it or not, just the fact that he has a strong personal style means that from any perspective, one cannot say that Yan Li is wrong.

Whether a strong personal style is good or bad for a film depends on your personal interpretation.

Fatty Yu added, grinning, "It definitely has a very strong ginger smell."

Yan Li glanced at him. This fatso definitely didn't understand and was just trying to fool people by going along with his words.

Master Han nodded. Yan Li really wanted to ask him if he understood, but after thinking about it, he decided not to be reckless.

Just recently, Han Sanye officially became the chairman of China Film Group, a position equivalent to a department-level official.

This rank isn't actually that high, at least not in Beijing, but it carries significant weight despite its low position, especially in the film industry. In some matters, it carries more weight than the head of the Film Bureau.

If you read more news, you'll know that, unless it's someone from the propaganda department or a certain film industry leader, the official representatives involved in film-related matters are mostly from the Film Bureau and China Film Group Corporation.

The former focuses on the main direction, while the latter leans towards execution. The Film Bureau is more powerful, but China Film Group is no pushover either.

Although the three of them only had a superficial understanding of the film, the film professionals, screenwriters, directors, and others invited by Jiang Wen to the screening spoke eloquently and shared their thoughts after the film ended.

"A true Chinese epic, a lost ideal, and a life distorted and destroyed under a grand narrative, with pleasing light and shadow and stirring and magnificent music, which makes people yearn for it and adds a huge sense of absurdity."

"A magical and fantastical subjective impressionistic nostalgic story."

"I love the poetic inspiration that comes by chance, the diverse characters who are either crazy, flamboyant, confused, or arrogant, and the crazy way of filming crazy people and crazy things."

"..."

Yan Li turned to look at Han Sanye and Yu Pangzi, who were listening attentively but still had a slightly confused look in their eyes, and felt that they still hadn't understood.

To be honest, even he had some trouble understanding it.

Explaining a movie you don't understand with language you can't understand only makes things more confusing.

Can't you just tell a story properly? Why is it like doing a reading comprehension exercise?

While inwardly complaining, Yan Li wore a thoughtful expression on his face, nodding in agreement from time to time.

He's a professionally trained scholar and an industry leader, so even if he doesn't know something, he has to pretend to.

After listening for a while, it started to resemble a Q&A session with the main creators, and everyone else chatted and talked, making the auditorium a bit noisy.

Wang Zhonglei, who also participated in "The Sun Also Rises," came over and tried to strike up a conversation.

As a result, Han Sanye kept talking to Yan Li, leaving Wang Zhonglei unable to get a word in edgewise. He couldn't help but glance at Yan Li with a complicated look in his eyes.

Yu Pangzi is a graduate of China Film Group, and Bona Film Group's success today is inseparable from the support of China Film Group, so it goes without saying that he and Han Sanye are close.

Huayi Brothers had previously been close to Han Sanye and China Film Group, especially in the early years when China Film Group provided funding for several of their films.

In the past two years, Huayi Brothers has increased its cooperation with Hong Kong and overseas capital, and has even made connections with Shanghai Film Group.

Huayi Brothers still cooperates with China Film Group, but it's more focused on distribution, and the number of collaborations is not as high as before.

Although on the surface, Huayi Brothers, China Film Group, and Han Sanye still maintain a close relationship, it still feels somewhat more distant than before.

On the one hand, there are the many objective factors mentioned above, and on the other hand, there is Yan Li's rapid rise to power.

Previously, there were only a few influential private film companies in mainland China. Huayi Brothers and Bona Film Group were the closest to China Film Group, which also needed the cooperation of the two companies. Naturally, they shared resources and information.

Under normal circumstances, even if Huayi Brothers is somewhat distant from China Film Group, its own strength means that China Film Group will still maintain a close relationship with it.

But no one expected that Yan Li would suddenly appear, and in just two or three years, he would be involved in both theaters and movies, making a name for himself.

Even though Huayi Brothers is currently stronger in the film industry, Yi'an is not weak either, and it has a presence in the cinema industry. Moreover, the leader is young and has great potential.

Thus, Yan Li and Yi An filled the gap left by Huayi Brothers and became Han Sanye's "new favorites".

In many situations these days, Han Sanye is accompanied by Fatty Yu and Yan Li. In many people's eyes, the two are Han's right-hand men, his two henchmen.

Therefore, Huayi Brothers can no longer turn back to China Film Group for support.

A large ship is difficult to turn around. Huayi Brothers' current development direction has been determined and cannot be changed at will.

Moreover, no one knows what Han Sanye is thinking now. Although he was the head of China Film Group before, he was not the boss. Now that he has taken the position, he is legitimate and his status is becoming more and more stable and powerful. His mentality and temper must have changed.

More importantly, there's also Yan Li here "sowing discord" and "fishing in troubled waters."

Yi An has a good relationship with China Film Group, and it goes without saying how much benefit that can bring. At this time, she certainly cannot allow Huayi Brothers to come back and influence her.

Even Fatty Yu might think the same way.

Bona and Huayi both rose to prominence at the beginning of the century. Their relationship included both cooperation and unpleasantness. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly good either.

Yan Li, on the other hand, has always had a good personal relationship with Fatty Yu, and the latter would definitely be more inclined to support Yan than Huayi.

Yan Li had no idea what the second son of the Wang family was thinking, otherwise he would definitely have scoffed at it.

It makes him seem like he's Han Sanye's lackey!
Yan Li was on good terms with Master Han, and often had to be mindful of his feelings, but power was no match for him, and Master Han had genuinely helped Yi An.

Yan Li respected Han Sanye, but he wasn't exactly obedient.

To put it bluntly, Yan Li's true allegiance and obedience came not from Han Sanye, but from the China Film Group behind him, or the behemoth behind the China Film Group.

Even without Han Sanye, if it were a certain Dong, as long as he was treated relatively fairly, Yan Li would definitely still be extremely close to China Film Group and cooperate tacitly.

This has nothing to do with personal relationships, but rather with attitudes; the Wang brothers underestimated him.

No matter how powerful Master Han is, he's only powerful in the film industry. Yan Li's business extends far beyond film. Han isn't up to the task of making Yan Li his henchman.

Enough, he won't take it either.

Listening to the collective and listening to individuals are two different things and have two different natures; attitudes are not just empty words.

...

"Third Master, you two, how much do you think this movie will do at the box office?"

Wang Zhonglei suppressed his thoughts and finally, during a pause in the conversation, asked the question that concerned him most.

What the movie is about is not important; what matters is how much money it makes.

"I think it must be at least over 100 million."

Master Han admires Jiang Wen, and the high praise from so many people present makes him quite optimistic about the film "The Sun Also Rises".

"Jiang Wen has a good reputation, and there are no competitors around the time of its release. If the word-of-mouth and quality are good, it is possible to gross 1.5 to 1.6 million yuan."

Goodness, they really dare to make such a bold estimate!

Yan Li almost lost his composure, not understanding what kind of spell Jiang Wen had cast on Master Han.

When the investment for "The Sun Also Rises" ran out, he went to great lengths to help secure funding, and now he is so optimistic about the film's box office performance.

1.5-1.6 million?!

Are there that many viewers in the current film market who enjoy reading comprehension exercises?

Yu Pangzi also said: "The movie is still a bit obscure. I think it should be around 1 million to 1.2 million."

Wang Zhonglei seemed relieved and shared his thoughts: "My brother saw a version before and estimated it at 6000 million. I think it could reach 8000 million. This kind of movie should be loved by many veteran movie fans."

After listening to the three men's words, Yan Li not only shook his head inwardly, but almost showed it on his face.

He works in the film industry, and he's involved in all channels, so he has a deep understanding of the industry and market.

Moviegoers are indeed the main consumers of movies, but with the opening up of the market, ordinary viewers and those who follow trends are the largest box office contributors.

Moreover, there are many types of movie fans. Some only watch Hollywood movies, while others prefer one or two genres such as action, horror, suspense, and comedy.

Those who enjoy art films and reading comprehension exercises are not a large circle even among film enthusiasts.

However, their "highbrow" style is often overlooked, and they like to write various interpretive essays, making it seem like they have a lot of people and a lot of voices. Other viewers and movie fans are not interested and feel impressed but don't understand, so they ignore them and do not refute them.

Furthermore, it must be pointed out that many movie fans, especially so-called veteran movie fans, do not go to the cinema.

People like to watch DVDs, quietly savoring movies over and over again, and they especially love older films.

No matter how many of these movie fans there are, they can't generate box office revenue.

Therefore, critical acclaim and box office success in the film industry are two different things. Audience praise and praise from film critics and professionals are also different concepts. Film fans can be divided into those who spend money and those who don't.

Han Sanye and his group understood this principle, but they were somewhat swayed by Jiang Wen's reputation, friendship, and interests, which affected their judgment.

Yan Li was more clear-headed than them, not because he was mentally stronger, but because he didn't think highly of the movie from the beginning.

Without hope, there's less wishful thinking and less susceptibility to various influences, allowing for a more calm and objective perspective when watching the film.

According to Yan Li's assessment, if this movie can reach 3000 million in box office revenue, it will be considered a success.

Considering Jiang Wen's star power and the fact that he should be popular with some movie fans, the copyright should be able to sell some copies, which should help recoup some of the losses.

As Yan Li was pondering this, Fatty Yu suddenly announced, "I'm planning to sign a guaranteed release agreement with Jiang Wen."

Wang Zhonglei's eyes lit up: "What's the minimum guarantee?"

"1 million!"

As mentioned before, guaranteed distribution works on a simple principle: distributors make bets with producers in order to secure projects.

Both parties agree on a certain amount and then sign a guarantee. If the box office falls below this amount, the distributor will cover the production company's losses. If the box office exceeds this amount, the distributor will receive a larger share.

If "The Sun Also Rises" receives a guaranteed release of 1 million yuan, the production company will earn at least 3000 million yuan.

Companies like Yanli, Huayi, and Bona each invested 500 million yuan, acquiring a 10% stake, while Yinghuang invested 1000 million yuan, securing an even larger stake.

If a minimum guarantee is signed, most of the investment will be recouped immediately. The remaining copyrights can be sold, and even if the investment isn't fully recovered, the losses won't be significant.

Wang Zhonglei estimated the film's box office at 8000 million yuan and was quite interested in Fatty's offer of a minimum guarantee.

Even if Bona wins the gamble and the box office exceeds 1 million, Huayi Brothers will still make a profit, at most taking a larger share. Yan Li frowned. He had initially intended to trick Huayi Brothers and Yinghuang, but Fatty Yu insisted on jumping into the trap, and he couldn't stop him.

Yan Li had already warned him beforehand, so he wasn't afraid of bringing up old grievances later. But unexpectedly, this guy thought the pit wasn't big enough and dug it deeper himself.

"Brother Yu, be careful. I told you before that this movie was quite risky. If we all played it together, we wouldn't lose much. Now you want to cover the losses yourself, that's no joke."

Yan Li thought for a moment and still spoke up to stop him. His relationship with Fatty Yu wasn't particularly good, but it was alright; they could be considered friends.

A few million is nothing to him; he can't just ignore a friend who's about to fall into a fire.

Fatty Yu shook his head, his tone firm: "Even if the box office is a little bad, this movie has a lot of attention, so it can make up for it in other ways."

Yan Li understood that Fatty Yu knew there were risks, but he was willing to lose money to promote Bona and seize the market.

However, Yan Li believes that Yu Pangzi's actions likely indicate that he is optimistic about the film's box office performance.

Even if it doesn't reach 1 million, but is 8000 million or 6000 million, Bona's actual expenditure to cover the price difference is not much and is within acceptable limits.

If Bona really thought this movie wouldn't make 5000 million, they wouldn't have resorted to such tactics, even if they were burning money to create hype and grab market share.

I advise you to be cautious.

Yan Li offered another reminder, but didn't offer any further advice. He knew the other person had their own methods, and saying more would only annoy him.

In some ways, we're even competitors. You might think you're doing a good deed, but others might think you're scheming to steal the project.

Yan Li reminded him several times before and after the event, and felt that he hadn't let his friend down, so he left the rest to Fatty Yu to figure out on his own.

...

Jiang Wen had finished communicating with them, so he came over to say hello. They chatted for a while and then arranged to have dinner together that evening.

Yan Li felt there were too many people and it was too chaotic, plus he had a social engagement to attend to, so he made an excuse to leave.

He wanted to get closer to Jiang Wen, and he wouldn't mind spending a day or two more.

Moreover, the movie is currently receiving good reviews, and everyone is praising Jiang Wen, so his confidence is high. It would be much better to wait until the movie is released and the box office is not good before Yan Li comforts and encourages him.

However, Master Han stopped Yan Li and said that he would go back with him since it was on the same route.

Yan Li has several hideouts, and it's hard to say whether they're on the way or not, but if Master Han says they're on the way, then they are.

The two rode in the same car. Yan Li thought that Master Han was going to talk to him about "The Sun Also Rises," but he didn't expect that Master Han would talk about something else.

A tribute film?

Yan Li was slightly surprised, but not particularly surprised. It was surprising that a private company owner like him would be thinking about making a book called "The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes".

If China Film Group has an official background and doesn't even have this sense and awareness, then they might as well give up.

In fact, Han Sanye had been thinking about this matter ever since he took office.

Making a patriotic film is easy; just find a script with a patriotic theme and shoot it. But making a film that stands out, makes a splash, and conveys a clear message is another story.

Han Sanye was currently lacking inspiration. He didn't know who told him that Yi An and CCTV were preparing to film a tribute drama, so he inquired about it to see if he could refer to it or learn from it.

"There is only one script right now, and CCTV is in talks with them. It hasn't been officially approved yet. The director and actors are still in the early stages of planning and preparation. If you want to ask, I can't answer that."

Yan Li told the truth that he had confirmed the project "The Right Path of the World is Full of Vicissitudes" and was in contact with CCTV.

His project hasn't officially started yet; it's still in the preparation stage, so it's hard to say anything definitive about it.

Master Han sighed. He had just taken office and needed to produce results.

A tribute film is the best achievement; if done well, it's more effective than making several successful commercial blockbusters.

Yan Li thought for a moment after hearing this: "Actually, I have an idea, which is to imitate the New Year's films or special movies in Hong Kong, and gather a lot of stars. We can invite stars from both sides of the strait and Hong Kong. The commotion will be huge and the hype will be great."

This approach isn't new; it's not just in Hong Kong, but also in mainland China where there are many similar schemes.

Take the Olympics for example. There are all sorts of celebrity parties to promote the Olympics, charity performances and galas, which are all kinds of celebrity medleys.

If they can compete on a gala, they can certainly compete on a movie!

However, every advantage has its disadvantages, and Yan Li raised some considerations regarding this matter.

"With so many celebrities, doesn't it seem like the focus is too much on entertainment and the tribute isn't serious enough? With so many celebrities, will they be paid? How much will they be paid? How will the costs be calculated?"

Master Han pondered for a moment: "Actually, we've discussed this idea internally as well."

"There are supporters, but also many opponents. Offering gifts is no small matter; we still need to study it carefully."

Making an ordinary tribute film may not be outstanding, but it is not necessarily wrong.

If we mess things up and turn this celebratory film into a disaster, the responsibility will be enormous, and no one can bear the burden.

"I think you might as well wait a bit. There's still time. See what the feedback is on the Olympic star strategy, and then try to get some feedback from the higher-ups."

When faced with a situation where you are unsure, it is wise to remain calm, hold your position, and wait for the right opportunity.

Master Han thought it was a good idea: "Then let's wait a bit, and I'll also have someone research other strategies."

"You can decide, but Third Master, let's make it clear that my idea can't be given for nothing. No matter what kind of tribute film it is, we, Yi'an, will have a share."

Yan Li reserved a production position for a tribute film spearheaded by China Film Group, and he had to get involved and make a strong statement.

"Don't worry about that."

Master Han gave his assurance that he greatly admired Yan Li, one reason being that Yan Li had a straight backside.

Although they sometimes exhibit a degree of local protectionism and occasionally complain and grumble, they never waver when it matters.

"..."

After dropping Master Han off at home, I politely declined the invitation to come up for tea and returned by car.

Today, Yan Li didn't go to any women's places, but instead found an empty house to live in by himself.

Having many women brings many advantages, but also many troubles. Yan Li occasionally likes to be alone for a while, to enjoy solitude, and to clear her mind.

To be honest, Yan Li has always felt that he has been so busy starting a business and making money these past few years that he doesn't even have many hobbies.

Aside from having more women around, the main activities are fitness training, boxing, watching sports occasionally, going online, and sometimes playing golf, mostly for social reasons. Life is somewhat dull.

He probably wanted to have some fun, but he didn't have enough time and his enthusiasm was short-lived.

Yan Li reflected on his own actions and realized that the problem lay in his own state of mind.

Although he kept saying that he could always start over, in reality, having been poor since childhood, he was quite attached to all the fame and status he had now.

The rapid growth of several companies, the many women around him, and the constant stream of information about the future all added to his burdens.

We can't stop, we dare not stop, we can only move forward!

Yan Li knew these emotions weren't good, but he didn't reject them. They helped alleviate some of his inner emptiness and boosted his motivation.

As for emotions, adjust them gradually.

Ultimately, the wealth didn't last long. All told, the real rise to power only took a few years, and people get used to it.

Besides, he's not even thirty yet. It's good for him to work hard. When he gets older and his mindset is more relaxed, he can cultivate any hobbies he may have.

Thinking of this, Yan Li smiled freely.

I'm still bored. When people are idle, they tend to overthink. I might as well go find a woman; at least I'll have something to do.

Unable to sleep, Yan Li took out his phone and checked his contacts.

Fan Xiaopang wasn't in Beijing, Jiang Xin wasn't in Beijing, and neither were Wang Ou and the other two. Qin Lan and Dong Xuan were there, but he was too lazy to go back. Calling the two over would be fine, but in this kind of secret base, they would inevitably be questioned and whispered about.

Not wanting to cause trouble, Yan Li looked at a name, hesitated for a moment, and since he was in a bad mood anyway, indulging himself wouldn't be a bad idea.

When I called, Yan Li mixed a drink himself. He didn't know how to mix drinks, so he just threw things in randomly. If it didn't taste good, he would add some other beverages, and then it would taste better.

He was drinking while watching TV on the sofa.

Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Yan Li got up and opened the door. Huo Siyan, dressed in light clothing, slipped in and then took off her hat and scarf.

This little vixen has always been keen on seducing Yan Li, and she makes no attempt to hide it in front of him, standing on tiptoe and rubbing against him.

"Why did you call me today?"

The claim that Yan Li had to avoid suspicion because she was Qin Lan's good friend had long been dispelled by Huo Siyan's many efforts.

Yan Li might not take the initiative at most, but he never stopped enjoying what he was entitled to; he was a complete hypocrite.

Over time, Huo Siyan assumed that Yan Li was just playing around with her, a flirtatious sister-in-law trying to seduce her respectable brother-in-law. But to her surprise, Yan Li took the initiative to ask her out today, leaving her both delighted and puzzled.

"I'm in a bad mood and want to vent my anger."

Yan Li told Huo Siyan the truth: perhaps their relationship was based on a transaction and a violation of morality.

Yan Li's attitude towards him was often not good, and sometimes even a bit harsh, although he would offer some compensation afterward.

This is somewhat similar to Wang Ou in his early days, but as time went on and Wang Ou became more obedient and sensible, Yan Li's attitude also began to change.

Huo Siyan has, to some extent, taken over the ecological niche that Wang Ou once occupied.

However, she adapted quite well, becoming more and more accustomed to it, and even somewhat enjoying it.

Well, Yan Li genuinely felt that Wang Ou and Huo Siyan were somewhat similar, at least in some ways of thinking. Their incompatibility might be due to the repulsion between like-minded people.

It might be the fault of her family of origin again. In his memory, Huo Siyan's family was also quite complicated when she was a child.

For example, if it were any other woman, hearing Yan Li's words, even if she didn't lash out, she would still feel somewhat annoyed and wronged.

Huo Siyan's eyes lit up, and she clung to Yan Li like a koala, even pressing herself tightly against him.

"Then sprinkle it on me."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: The air conditioner at home broke down today, and it was hot and hard to find someone, so I was a bit delayed. I'll add the missing 2,000 words to the account.
Also, don't rush to pay off the debts. I'm still getting acupuncture these days, and the weather is hot and I'm a bit irritable. I'll resume my regular 8000-word update schedule first, adjust my condition, and then make up for the rest.
　(1000/104000)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)